Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



Gr.l N. MEVES; OPERATING MEGHANISM Foa WASHING MAOHINES.

AP-PLIATION-FILED AUG.v 13, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

` G. N. MEW-1s. OPERATING MEGHANISM FOB. WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION-FILED AUG. 13, 1909.

Patented June 21,'1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. N. MEVES. OPERATING MEGHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 13, 1.909.

. Patented June 21, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i To all whom 'it may concern:

' of that type in which the stirrer head or 'UNITED sTArEs rgrnnr OFFICE.

GUSTAV N. NIEVES, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

OPERATING IVIECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten June 21, 1910.

Application filed August 13, 1909. Serial No', 512.630.

Be it lmownthat I, GUs'rAv N. Marias, a citizen of the United States, and a resident. of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Vashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to vthe numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in operating mechanism for washing machines dolly is given a rotary reciprocatory motion within the tub to turn the clothes .first in one direction and then in the other through the Wash water in the tub.

The invention relates more specifically to' improvements ,in machines of that type wherein. a bala-nce lwheel or other power V' storing device is operatively connected with tion-.on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a ver-- .50

the actuating device for the stirrer head shaft in such manner as to reduce the power required to operate the' .machine, after the operating mechanism has been setin motion and to render-the reversal of the'operating means by which rotary reciprocatory mot-ion is imparted to the stirrer head shaft smooth and free from shocks dueto such reversal.

I have herein shown myjimprovement as applied to a machine having a rocking member through which rotary reciprocato'ry motion is,A imparted to the stirrer head shaft,

the rocking member being operatively connected with a gear on'the outer or upper end of said shaftand provided wit-h a lever by which it is rocked. This type of machine is known as the leverI type. My improvements however may be applied to machines lfaving other forms ofactuated devices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is acentralvertical sectional view of a washing machine equipped with an operating mechanism embodying my invent-ion. Fig. 2 is a' partial plan view thereof. Fig. 3 1s a `vertical sectical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is' a horizontal section on line 5--5 of 1. ine

` Fig. Gis a detail horizontal sectionon 6-#6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the gear casing or housing which incloses a 'portion of the-intermediary ears between the balance wheelandthe han actuated de Vice of the machine. Fig. 8 is a partial side elevation of a washing machine, showing a modified arrangement of the operatin mechanism. Fig. 9 is a partial plan view o the parts shown in Fig. Y

As shown in F1gs.1 to 7 of said drawings,

the tub 10, the stirrer head 11 andthe stirrerhead sha-ft 12 are of the usual construction for' this type of machine. Said stirrer head shaft extends upwardly through and has bearing in a sleeve 13 that lextends through an openingin the swinging lid or cover 14 of the machine and is made integral with a' plate l5 fixed to the upper side ofthe swinging lid or cover. The swinging portion '14.

of the top wall is ,hinged at 16 to the fixed or non-rising portion 1 7- thereof. The'stirrer.

head shaft is provided at its upper end above the lid with a beveled pinion 18 which meshes vwith the gear sector of a rocking member 19 that is pivoted to an upright standard or bracket 20 that rises from or is made integral with the plate 15. Said standard is provided with a horizontal pivot pin 21 which extends through 'a bearing aperture in t-he rocking member 19 bywhich the rocking member is pivoted to said standard.

Said gear sector 'or rocking member is provided with asocket. piece 22 in which t's ahand lever 23- by which the rocking member is swung or rocked about its axis to impart rotary reciprocatory motion to the stirr'er head shaft.

Located beneaththe'botto'm 24 of the t-ub is a horizontal balance wheel 25 which is rotatively mounted on a' pin or stud 26 vmade integral with and'de ending from a frame plate/ 27 that lis fixe to the lower face of theY bottom of the tub. Ball bearings 29 are interposed between the recessed ends' of the balance wheel hub 30 and 'said frame plate and a washer 31, respectively, t-he latter sur- The said washer and stud its lower end in a bearing member or bracket 36 that is shown as made integral with the frame'plate 27, the latter extending beyond the side of the tub to form said bearing. Said plate is provided with a vertical attaching member 37 that is bolted to the side wall of the tub. At its upper end the shaft is rotatively mounted in a bearing bracket 39 located at one side of and near the top of the tub. The lower' end of the shaft is provided with a crank arm V4() which is connected, through the medium of a pitman 41, with an eccentric pin 42 depending from the bal-v ancewheel at one side of its hub.

Fixed to the-upper end of the shaft 35, above the bearing bracket 39, is a beveled pinion 43.4 Interposed between the.l lower end of the hub of said pinion and a raceway .in the upper side ofthe bracket 39 'is a set of anti-friction balls 44 by which the weight of the shaftV and its pinion 'are supported. The said pinion meshes with a vertically arranged beveled gear wheel 45 that is fixed to a stud `46, as by means of the pin 47, and said V' stud is rotatively mounted'in a ixed'bearing vided on' its inner side,'or the side thereof 48. The said beveled gearwheel 45 is prolfacing the operating lever, with aV concentric, integral, beveled pinion 49 that meshes with which partially incloses said vgear whee a beveledgear wheel 5.0 which-is rotatively mounted `on a stud51 made integral, as herein lshown with a casing or housing 52 50. The 4said gear wheel 50vis provided yat one side with an eccentric .pin'54 that is connected by a pitman 55 with a stud56 carried by rthe-rocking member 19 and located eccentri'cally with respect to the axisoi" oscillationof said rocking member; said stud being herein shown as located below said axis or the bearing pin 21. Y

As herein shown the itman 55 is detach ably connected withfsald stud 56. so as to permit the 4pitman to be disconnected from the rocking member when the lid of the tub is to be opened. f This detachable connection may be. eii'ected by providing the inner end of the pitman with a downwardly opening notch 58 which is fitted downwardly over the stud 56, and the pitman isdetachably locked'V to said stud Vby means of a gravity locking detent l59 which is'h-inged lto the rocking member at 60, aboye said stud, t swing toward and away from said' rocking mem er andltowardand away from the .notched end'of the' p itman. -The lower or headed end of said locking detent normally rests on the upper edge of the inner notched end of the pitman 55 and in this position holdsthe pitman pi votally connected with its stud 56. When the detent is swung outwardly the inner end of the pitman is free to be raised away from the stud for disengagement therewith, whereby the pitman may be swung baclrwardly out of the way of the hinged lid when it is desired `to swing the latter upwardly to' open the tub.

The bearing'bracket 39, the bearing 48 for the stud 46 and the bearing stud 51 may be made integral parts ot a single casting formed to constitute a'housing. forthe pinions 43 and 49 and the' gear wheels 46 and V50, said housing embracing the portion 52 before referred to', which partially incloses the gear wheel 50, a portion. 62 which incloses the gear whe-el 45 and a portion 63 which incloses the pinion 43. For convenience of assembling the gears in said housing, I may form the portion 62 thereof with la detachable' plate 65 that .is xed to the housing casting by bolts 66. On this removable plate is integrally formed the bearing 48 for the shaft 46 on which the gear Wheel 45 is mounted.

Then the housing is formed as thus described the plate 65 is removed before the gears are'assembled,. and in assembling the gears the pinion 43 is irst'dr'opped over the upper end of the shaft 35 andixed thereto, `as by means of the pin 67. Thereafter the gear wheel 5'() is applied over its bearing stud 51 and fastened thereon by means of the pin 68 which extends transversely throughthe stud outside of the ear wheel, and finally the plate 65, with the stub shaft .46 mounted therein, and the gear lixed to said shaft is fitted-in place, with the pinion 49 meshingwith the gear wheel 50 and the 4gear wheel 45 meshing with the pinion' 43. Thereafter the bolts 66'are applied to fastenthe late in place. The housing with the bearlngs arranged therein as described is attached to the tub by means of .integral horizontal and vertical attaching members 69, 70 which are fitted over and bolted to the iixed portion of the top wall and the side Wall of the tub, respectively. In order to strengthen the connection of said'housing `with the tub the attaching bolts extend Alever 23, or other manually operable part, is

grasped by the operator and swung from lio.

side to side, and operates the gear sector orv operating member 3 9 and the pinion 18 on the stirrer head shaft to impart a rotary reciprocatory motion tothe stirrer head or dolly. 'The connection of said rocking member, through the medium ofthe pitman 55, with the gear 50 operates to rotate said gear continuously in one direction, and this unidirectional movement is imparted to the 'vertical shaft 35 through the pinion 49, the

gear wheel 45 and the pinion 43, and to the balance wheel through the crank 40, the pitman 4l and eccentric pin 42 of the balancev weight of none of the gearing or of the balance wheel, thereby enabling the lid to bereadily lifted.- A guard 73 is arranged at the lower side of the tub to inclose the crank arm 40 of the shaft 35 and to prevent the crank arm from striking a person orfobjects near the machine. This guard is herein. shown as formed integral with the bearing bracket 36 for the lower end of the shaft 35. l

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified arrangement of the balance wheel 75 and the operative connections between it and the speed increasing gears. In this construction the balance wheel is arranged in a vertiof the latter and is fixed to the outer end of a horizontally rotative shaft 7f3. Said shaft is rotatively mounted in bearing lugs or brackets 77, 77 made integral with andv rising from a frame plate 78 that is bolted to the fixed portion 17- of the top wall of the tub. Said frame plate is provided with a brace l7S) that extends downwardly therefrom and is bolted to the side of the tub;

`To the inner end of said rotative shaft 76 is fixed a beveled pinion 80 that mesheswith a beveled gear wheel 81 which, in turn, carries a concentric pinion 82 that meshes with a second beveled gear wheel 83' that may be connected by the pitman with the rocking member or geared sector 1,9 in the same manner as before described. The train of gears 83, 82 and 81'operate in the same manner do the gears 50, 49 and 45 to rotate-the pinion. S0 and the horizontal shaft 76, and balance wheel xed thereto, said gear train increasing or multiplying the speed of the balance Wheel for the purpose before set forth'. The said train of gears ofthe constmction shown in Figs. 8 and 9. may be messed and have bearing 1n a suitable hous.

ing 85 generally similar to .the housing shown in Figs. 1 to 7inclusive.'

Thile I have described with considerable particularity the structural details of the mechanism shown, itis to be understood that many of the details may be considerably varied within the scope ofthe invention, and the invention is not limited to such details except asrhereinafter made the subject of specific claims.

While the operating mechanism herein shown has been describedin vconnection with a washing machine, it will be obvious that itmay be equally well applied to other machines having the same general mode of operation, or wherein there is provided .a member which is designed to `be driven in a. ro-

tary reciprocatory manner.

I claim as my. invention:

l. Operating mechanism for washing and like machines comprising, in combinationI with a Vertical shaft capable of rotaryY reciprocatory motion, actuating means for im?.

parting rotary reciprocatory motion to said shaft, a balance wheel arranged below said shaft and speed increasing gear mechanism operatively connected between said actuating means and said bala-nce wheel embracing a Vertical rotative shaft operatively connected atits' upper and lower ends with said actuating means and balance wheel respectively.

2. Operatingmechanism for,washi ng machines compr1s'1ng,^in' combination with a shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, actuating means for imparting rotary reciprocatory motion to said shaft, a bala-nce wheel arranged in a plane transverse to the cal plane at one side of the tub near the top axis of said shaft, and operative connections between said actua-tingmeans and the balance wheel vembracing a rotative shaft arranged in a plane transverse to that of the balance wheel, speed increasing gear mechanismv interposed between one end of said shaft and sa1d actuating means and oper-- ative connection between the other end' of said shaft and the balance wheel.

3. Operating mechanism for washingmachines comprising, in combination with -a shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, actuating meansfor imparting rotaryreeiprocatory mot-ion to said shaft, a balance wheel arranged 1na plane transverse to the axis of said shaft, and operative said shaft and said actuating means, acrank at the'other end of the shaft, and 'apit'man connecting said crank with an eccentrlc stud. on the balance'wheel.

4. Operating mechanism for washing ma-l Cir shaft capable of `rotary reciprocatory .mo-

tion, actuating means for imparting rotary connections between the other end of 'said shaft and the balance wheel and a housing for said speed increasing gears provided with bearingsfor the gears.

5. Operating mechanism for washing machines comprising, in lcombination with a shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, a rocking actuating member for said shaft, a balance wheel, a rotative shaft con nected at one end tosaid balance Wheel, a train of speed increasing gears connected between the other end of said latter shaft and said rocking member and a link pivoted to said rocking `member and t an eccentric stud on the first gear of said train.

6. Operating mechanism for washing mae4 chines comprising, in combination with a shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, an actuating device for said shaft, a balance wheel, a rotative shaft provided at .one end With a crank which `is operatively connected with they balance Wheel, a train of speed increasing gears between the other end of said latter shaft and said actuating means, and a link pivofed to said actuating device and an eccentric stud on the first gear of said train. y

7. @perating mechanism for washing 'and like machines comprising, in combination with a shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, a swinging lever provided with a 'gear sector, a gear on said shaft meshingwith said sector, a rotative shaft, a balance wheel connected to one end of said rotative shaft, a pinion at the other end of said latter shaft, a train of speed increasing gears, the gear at one side of which meshes with said pinion, a link connecting another gear on the other side of saidgtrain with said gear sector and means whereby said link is detachably and pivotally connected 'to said sector.

`8. Operating mechanism 'for washing and like machines comprising, in combinan tion with a vertical shaft capable'of rotary reciprocatory motion, a swinging lever provided With a gear sector,fa gear on said shaft meshing with said sector, a horizontal balance Wheel, a vertical, rotative shaft provided at its lower end with a crank, a pitman connecting said crank withl said bal ance Wheel, a iinion on the upperv end of said crank shalt, a train of speed increasing gears, the gear at one aide of which eener? lmeshes with said pinion, the gearat the other side of said train being provided with an eccentric stud, and a link pivotally connected with said stud and with an eccentric stud on the gear sector.

9. perating mechanism for washing and like machines comprising, in combination with a vertical, shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, a rocking member for said shaft, a horizontal balance wheel and operative connectionsbetween said 'rocking member and balance wheel, embracing a vertical, rotative shaft connected at its lower end with the balance wheel, a speed increasing gear mechanism connecting said rotative shaft to the rocking member, said latter mechanismembracing a pitman and a stud on the rocking member, said pitman with said stud.

andv like machines comprising, in combination with a vertical sha-ft capable of rotary reciprocatory;motion, a rocking member for imparting rotary reciprocatory motion to said shaft, a balancewheel and operative connection between said rocking mem-ber and balance wheel, embracing a rota-tive shaft connected at one end with the balance wheel, a speed increasing gear mechanism connecting the other end of said shaft to said rocking member, said` .latter mechanism embracing a pitman and astud on the rocking member, said pitman `heilig provided with a notched portion whichy fits over said stud and a locking ldetent'pscarried bythe rocking member for detachably holding the pitinan engaged with said stud.

il. Operating mechanism for Washing and like machines comprising, in combination with a vertical shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, actuating means for tion with ashaft capable of rot-ary reciprotively connected with and ada ted to imshaft, a balance Wheel, a rotative shaft connected at one end with rsaid balance Wheel, a

pinion fixedj to the other end of said latter shaft, a gearwheel meshing with. said pinion ond gear wheel meshing with the last menimparting rotary reciprocatory motion to- `being pivotally and detachably connected said shaft, a horizontal balance wheel ar and like machines comprising, in combina-- catory motion, a rocking member opera and provided with a concentric pinion, a sec-V 10. Operating mechanism for washing part rotary reciprocatory mot on tosaid Y mentioned vgear wheel with said .rocking member.

ance wheel, a pinion at the upper end of theconnecting the last mentioned vreciproc-atory motion, a rockin 13. Operating mechanism for Washing 'and like machines comprising, in combination with a vertical shaftcapable of rotary member geared to said shaft for imparting rotary reciprocatory motion to the shaft, a horizontal balance wheel below said shaft, a vertical rotative shaft provided at its lower end with a crank connected with said ba1- latter shaft, a gear wheel meshing therewith and provided with a concentric pinion, a second gear wheel meshing with the last mentioned pinion and a link connectin the last mentioned gear wheel with said roc ing member.

14:; Operating mechanism for washing and like machines com rising, inA combination with a shaft capab` e of rotary reci ro-v catory motion, a rocking member geare to said shaft for imparting rotary reciproca# torymotion to the shaft, a balance wheel, a rotative shaft connected at one end with said balance wheel, a pinion fixed to the other end of said latter shaft, a gear wheel meshing with said pinion and. provided witli a concentric pinion, a second gear wheell mesh` ing with the last mentioned pinion, a .link ear wheel with said rocking member and a ousing inclosing and provided with bearings for, said gear wheels and pinions. I

15. Operating mechanism for washing machines comprising, in combination, a vertical shaftcapablev of rotary reciprocatory motion, actuating means folim arting rotary reciprocatory motion to sald shaft, a balance wheel below said shaft and operative connections between said actuating means and balance wheel embracing an upright ro tative shaft, speed increasing ear mechan-d of said ro- 45.

ism connected between one en tativelshaft and said actuatin means and operative connections betweenit e other end' of'the shaft and balance wheel.

16. Operating mechanism for washing,

machines comprising, in combination, a vertical shaft capable of rotary reciprocatory motion, actuating means for imparting rotary reciprocatory motion 'to said shaft, a balance wheel below said shaft, and speed increasing gear mechanism operatively connected between said actuating means and lbalance wheel,- .embracing a vertical shaft which is driven continuousl in one direction by said actuating means an arranged to im. part a continuous high speed motlon t the 50 bala'noe Wheel.

. 17 Operating mechanism -for washing machines comprising, in combination, a vertical shaft providedv at" its upper' end with aj pinion, a rocking member having a segmental gear meshin with said pinion, a balance wheel arranged elow said shaft and a speed increasing gear mechanism connected between said rocking member and said balance wheel, embracing a vertical shaft which is driven from the rocking member continuously in vone direction and operates to driveA the balance vWheel at high speed in one direction. A Y A In testimony, that 4I claim the foregoing 75 as my invention I affixmy si ature in the c presence vof two witnesses', this 3rd day of August A.- D. 1909. A,

.. GUSTAV. N. MEVES.

Witnesses: .A HUGO C. Voer,

W. T. Down. 

